Heat will clash with Cougars this weekend

The first road games for the Heat men's basketball team of 2016 are on tap this weekend with two games against the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary this Friday and Saturday. Tip-off at 7 p.m. (PST) on Friday and at 6 p.m. (PST) on Saturday on Kenyon Court.

UBC OKANAGAN HEAT (9-8, 5-5 Canada West)
CIS National Ranking: //
CanWest Standings: Tied-3rd - Explorer
Last week: 1-1 // (Fri L, 69-57), (Sat W, 52-57) vs TRU
Streak: Won 1
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 3-17
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: /
2014-15 Overall Record: 4-26
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: NA
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: NA

• SCHEDULE
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KELOWNA BC- The UBC Okanagan men’s basketball team finished their first weekend of regular season games following the winter break with split against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack giving them a (5-5) and a tie for third spot in the Explorers division. The Heat will traveling to Calgary to play the Mount Royal Cougars this weekend. The first game of the weekend series will take place on Friday, January 15th with tip off scheduled for 8 p.m. The second game will follow on Saturday January 16th with a start time of 7 p.m.

Key Players - The Heat continue to be led by second year, Aldrich Berrios who is averaging 17.4 points per game making him an offensive threat to every team in the conference. Berrios is also shooting an impressive 91.9 percent from the free throw line putting him first in that category and has shot (32-79) 40.5 percent from the three point line putting him at third in that category.  Senior Mitch Goodwin is always a threat and finished the weekend series against Thompson Rivers with a combined 23 points.

Keys -  Shooting will be where the game will be decided for UBC Okanagan. The Cougars are currently eighth in shooting as they are 42.5 percent from the field. UBCO is currently showing 42.5 percent from the field at home. However on the road the Heat are 1-3 and shoot just 40.5%  from the field.  If the Heat can effectively shoot the ball on the road they should be able to maintain  in the playoff race in the Explorer division.

Head to Head -The Heat’s record stands 4-6 against Mount Royal. The Heat were able to capture two straight wins in November against the Cougars. The last game of the series finished with two three point makes from Berrios in the last second of the game to tie and then surpass the Cougars for a 87-84 win. The Cougars will be looking for redemption as they host the Kelowna squad

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (3-7, 1-3  Canada West)            
CIS National Ranking: //
CanWest Standings: T5 - Explorer
Last week: / 1-1 / (Fri L, 89-75), (Sat W, 86-71 OT) at UFV
Streak: Won 1
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 10-10
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: //
2014-15 Overall Record: 10-10
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: none
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: none

• SCHEDULE
• ROSTER
• STATS
• STANDINGS

Mount Royal Cougars - The Cougars have had a good start to their second half of their season, splitting the series against Fraser Valley. The Calgary squad are looking for a home court advantage as they host  the Heat this weekend on Kenyon Court.

Current Form-  The Cougars go into this game with a 3-7 record and stand fifth in the explorers division. The Cougars coming off of an overtime win on the road against Fraser Valley will be looking to claim more as they have home court advantage over the Heat.

Key Players -  6’8 forward, Brett Layton is remaining on top with an impressive 59.9 as his field goal percentage, putting him first in the category. Layton is also remaining a threat on the glass as he is first in Canada for offensive rebound with 38 and second in defensive rebounds with a high of 73. Another guard to look out for is James Lefebvre has combined for a total of 25 points in the weekend series against Fraser Valley, he is averaging 13.9  points per game on the season,  Glen Yang is assisting his teammates score with 39.1 from the field.

preseason preview courtesy of Canadawest.org

Number of new players: 7 // Key Recruits: Ty Cuperus (F/Perth, AUS/Sterling HS); Shay Foggo (F/Calgary, AB/Crescent Heights HS); Matthew Gray (G/Victoria, BC/Oak Bay Secondary); Neil Phillip (G/Calgary, AB/SAIT); Tyis Yellow Horn (G/Piikini Nation, AB/Chestermere, HS); Tethloach Thokbuom (F/Calgary, AB/Western Canada HS); Brett Layton (F/Calgary, AB/ Sir Winston Churchill HS)

Number of departing players: 5 // Key Losses Oluwafemi Ogun (F/5); Deng Awak (G/5); Awet Abraha (G/5); Manok Akwl (G/4); Kyle Wilson (F/5) 

Key performer: The Cougars will field a very different line up this season that will include seven new recruits but it will be two veterans that will make the difference this season. Fifth year James Lefebvre and fourth year Derek Wolf will try to lead the Cougars to the playoffs after narrowly missing last season. Lefebvre, forced to play post most of last season due to injury, will finally play in his natural position. Derek Wolf will take over the majority of the ball handling responsibilities after the departure of Deng Awak and Awet Abraha.

Coach Quote: "We’ve got a lot of new guys this year, we’ve got a lot of new energy around the program and it’s exciting but certainly we have a lot of room to build and grow. How quickly we can develop with our young guys and grow as a team will determine how successful we will be. I really like our roster right now, I really like how the guys are working and playing together. We are looking forward to a good season here. Consistency will definitely be the key and if we can play with consistently then we will have success." – Head Coach Marc Dobell

Key storyline: Size is what will define the Cougars in 2015-16. After years of being a notoriously small squad, the Cougars went out and recruited some tall, long forwards this past offseason. The Cougars now have four players six-foot-seven or taller and do not have a single player on the roster under six-feet. Their combination of size and speed will help them match up better with the top teams in the conference.